NGO ship Open Arms released for aid mission but not refugee rescue
Spanish government cites security concerns preventing search-and-rescue operations
migrant crisis
Pilot program aims to train 900 unaccompanied minor refugees in Catalonia
The current initiative is housing and preparing 40 migrants under 18 in the southern town of Tarragona
Refugees rescued by Catalan NGO reach Barcelona
Red Cross coordinates humanitarian and social intervention of 60 migrants saved by Open Arms organization
Catalan president and Barcelona mayor reaffirm offer to take in refugees
Torra says Catalonia can shelter “at least 1,800” stranded migrants, with Spain warning about becoming “Europe’s rescue organization”
Catalan NGO rescue boat with three migrants not allowed to disembark
Libyan coastguard patrol threatens to shoot waiting Proactiva Open Arms ship
Around 2,000 refugees to be hosted in Catalonia “for a long time”
Around 2,000 war refugees will arrive in Catalonia in three months’ time and stay “for a long time”, Catalan Government spokeswoman Neus Munté announced at a meeting this morning. The main goal is to integrate the refugees as much as possible and to guarantee their access to health and education services. During the meeting, Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and Neus Munté, urged the Spanish government to “accelerate the asylum process” and announce the resources that the EU will allocate for this matter. Colau declared that 2,000 families registered on the list of volunteers even before the authorities agreed on a coordinated answer. This shows “the solidarity of Catalan society and that of Barcelona city” Colau said “and it has been crucial in forcing the government to act”, she added.